I Think I've Fallen for Riki! (Please Subscribe First!)

Ugh, capitalism!

Riki asked curiously, "I know what VIP means, but what difference does adding 'couple' make?"

The staff member said, "Hello, there's no difference at all."

Your mother.

Riki said to Nagasaki Sose beside him, "They mistook us for a couple."

"Oh, I see."

Nagasaki Sose's unexpectedly calm expression surprised Riki a little.

"I haven't been to an amusement park in a long time. The last time was with my parents." Nagasaki Sose looked a little dazed.

So that's what you were thinking about.

I can be your dad. I don't mind.

But Riki felt that Nagasaki Sose might mind.

Better not say it and get beaten up.

Looking at Nagasaki Sose's beautiful face, Riki smiled and said, "Then we can't waste today. We earned these tickets with our own labor."

Nagasaki Sose smiled. After thinking for a moment, she pointed at the carousel ahead and said, "Let's ride that first."

That's a little childish for a macho man like me. We should try the Teacups beside it first.

Riki was still a bit chauvinistic. Riding a carousel would damage the reputation of the Riki family.

"Eh..."

Nagasaki Sose grabbed Riki and ran over. After sitting on the carousel horse, she turned and reached out to him. "Come on up. This is the only one left without anyone on it. Let's ride together."

A gentle smile appeared on Nagasaki Sose's face.

Riki's heart stirred faintly.

******

Got any tickets?

Chapter 64: I Think I've Fallen for Riki! (Please Subscribe First!)

The sunny rainbow little white horse~

Of course, the carousel's song wasn't this one, but Riki felt that the scene matched the words perfectly. Amid the children's cheers, the horses rose and fell as they moved, and it was truly delightful.

But Riki and Nagasaki Sose, sitting on the little white horse amid the carousel's laughter and merriment, looked somewhat furious.

Riki hadn't expected the saddle on the little white horse to be so small. There was indeed room after he sat down, but that space was probably meant for children. So after Nagasaki Sose sat in front of him, her entire body was practically nestled in his arms. Her soft, boneless body made Riki's heart race, and he hurriedly recited the Sakiko Sutra before he could suppress the wicked thoughts in his heart.

She smells pretty good, too.

Nagasaki Sose hadn't expected her sudden impulse to invite Riki to ride together to turn out like this.

"Don't lean too close to me. If you dare take advantage of me, I won't let you off," Nagasaki Sose warned.

"Isn't this your fault?" Riki tried to sort out who was supposed to take the blame.

"What did you say?" Nagasaki Sose narrowed her eyes.

Riki fell silent. Nagasaki Sose's level was stuck right here. She could only live a relatively failed life. As a successful person, he couldn't be bothered to talk to her.

Who says winning the national special award doesn't count as making the final four?

Seeing that Riki had stopped talking, Nagasaki Sose huffed and revealed a carefree smile. Although having Riki beside her was a blemish, the joy of returning to an amusement park after so long made her even happier.

And just then—Uncle, no, the little white horse sped up.

The carousel entered its second phase, and its speed increased.

The cheerful sounds around them suddenly grew louder, and because of the sudden acceleration, Nagasaki Sose immediately fell into Riki's arms.

Nagasaki Sose's face stiffened.

He's pretty warm, too.

No, what am I thinking?

"Pretty lady, the carousel isn't a place for dating," said a child on a passing horse.

Riki explained himself to Nagasaki Sose.

"No, no, he's only my servant... I mean, my friend," Nagasaki Sose hurriedly explained.

Did you just say servant?

That's too much, Nagasaki Sose.

Your Moe Girl Encyclopedia is going to turn into an electric mouse tonight and get blasted by Nintendo's lawyers.

Nagasaki Sose didn't even know why she had explained so much to a child, but hearing those words still made her heart tremble uncontrollably.

To outsiders... do we look like we're dating?

Nagasaki Sose stared at Riki's profile, slightly lost in thought.

But Riki probably likes Sakiko. Toward me, he should...

As Nagasaki Sose thought this, she unconsciously gripped her arm and failed to notice that the horse had stopped until then.

"Come down." Riki stood below with both hands out to catch her. Seeing that she wasn't moving, he asked strangely, "What's wrong? Has the kingly power in your right hand malfunctioned? Should we go to the infirmary?"

Nagasaki Sose looked down at Riki's worried expression. She was in a good mood, but kept a cold face and said, "I'm fine. I was just overwhelmed by the smell coming off you."

I'm not White Skin or Black Skin. Where would the stink come from?

Are you just hating for the sake of hating?

Nagasaki Sose grabbed both of Riki's hands and jumped down, leaning faintly against his chest.

Sakiko probably likes Riki too, right?

But I don't like Riki anyway. Today... we're just hanging out as good friends. Surely no one will misunderstand.

"Listen carefully. You have to make sure I enjoy myself today, understand?" Nagasaki Sose put her hands on her hips.

"Okay, okay, whatever you say."

Sigh, this damn gentleness of mine.

Picking up from last time, Riki and Nagasaki Sose had formed the Haicheng Mygo Super-Play Club. They were at the amusement park and had just gotten off the carousel.

"Where should we go next? The Roller Coaster?" Nagasaki Sose asked, blinking.

Riki hesitated for a moment before saying, "No. You're afraid of heights."

"Who told you I'm afraid of heights?" Nagasaki Sose narrowed her eyes. "Actually, you're the one who's afraid of heights and too scared to go, aren't you? Coward."

"Fine, then let's ride it." Riki snorted.

You look down on me, huh? I'll show you the might of Riki Sixteen.

Nagasaki Sose hesitated for a moment before saying, "No. You're afraid of heights."

Isn't that our Riki's joke?

Remember to cite the source next time.

Backing down, are you... Riki sneered at Nagasaki Sose, but when she glared at him with a frown, he immediately turned his head and glanced to the side.

...This tree sure is green.

The amusement park was huge, so the two cowardly height-phobes could stroll around while looking at the map and chatting. Just then, music began playing ahead.

"That's Chopin's Nocturne," Riki said.

"I listen to Beethoven more often," Nagasaki Sose said.

"Looks like our musical tastes are incompatible. Understood. We're done!"

"Get back here."

After taking only two steps, Riki noticed that one of the amusement park staff members looked somewhat frantic. He furrowed his brow and moved Nagasaki Sose behind him protectively.

Unexpectedly, the staff member's eyes lit up when he saw Riki, and he hurried over.

"You're Mr. Riki, right? I once attended the National Music Competition as a member of the audience and heard you perform. As a music lover, I've always felt that when you won first prize, the current first-place winner had stolen it..." the staff member said enthusiastically.

The Thief Saint?

Watch what you say. If my little sister comes charging at you, it has nothing to do with me. I went to bed ages ago.

"Why are you blowing rainbow-colored smoke up my ass? Why not just say what you mean?" Riki asked.

"You misunderstand. I really am your fan. This is a sincere fart."

Do you want to listen to what you're saying?

"Our musician overslept. Although he's rushing over, he still won't make it in time for the first performance. It's supposed to take place on the parade float. Could you help us?" Sweat beaded on the staff member's forehead, and he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. "Of course, we won't make you work for free. In addition to the performance fee, all your food and drinks at the amusement park will be free."

"What happened?"

Nagasaki Sose was still very dignified in front of other people. She quietly asked Riki what was going on.

"Their staffing arrangement ran into a problem. They want me to perform in someone's place," Riki said.

Ah, are we going to separate...? Nagasaki Sose was startled for a moment, and a faint sense of disappointment rose in her heart.

With Riki around, she could interact with him more like her true self. But when she was alone, she couldn't help feeling a little lonely and afraid.

The staff member looked at Nagasaki Sose, and his eyes lit up again. "Would you be interested in wearing a wedding dress, miss? We're currently missing a beautiful lady on our float. With you there, along with the music, we'll definitely attract even more people to watch."

Are you pitching a bundled advertising campaign here?

After Riki explained, Nagasaki Sose awkwardly waved her hands. "I'm terribly sorry, but I'm not fond of this kind of performance. I'm more proficient in music."

"Music?" The staff member brightened. "Could you do a piano duet? Today is actually Couples' Special Day, and it would have an even better effect if the two of you played together."

Damn it, couples this, couples that, every single day! Do you people have nothing better to do?

All of you should go celebrate Singles' Day.

"Let's give it a try," Nagasaki Sose said softly to Riki. She was curious what it would feel like to perform at an amusement park.

Riki and Nagasaki Sose stepped onto the parade float, where he saw Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in the back.

"Do you have this 'you know who' over there?" Riki asked Nagasaki Sose.

"That? You mean Disney—"

"Okay, don't say it. I know they do."

Don't get us blasted by a copyright cannon. No, wait, copyright artillery.

Why does that actually sound kind of cool?

The parade float formed a line and slowly began circling the amusement park. The employees in mascot costumes performed with all their might, showing every visitor their best side. Salute fireworks shot from the cannons on both sides of the float, and ribbons rained down from the sky, provoking waves of cheers.

"It's MyGO!!!!!" Riki said to Nagasaki Sose, who was sitting beside him. "Are you ready?"

Nagasaki Sose thought for a moment. "Aye aye, Captain?"

Riki was amused. Are you pretending to be SpongeBob?

Nagasaki Sose proudly glanced at Riki.

I know about these things too.

When her parents went out and she was home alone, she had spent her time watching these cartoons.

As the float reached the area with the largest crowd, Riki and Nagasaki Sose sat before the piano and began to play Beethoven's Für Elise.

When the music began, the crowd seemed to feel the powerful emotions within the piano's notes. The lively plaza fell silent in an instant.

Nagasaki Sose felt it most strongly of all. She gazed absently at Riki beside her.

Who was he thinking of while he played the piano?